In this 14th week of pregnancy baby size of 16 weeks, is 14 cm and its weight is 110 g. Its growth will now take a very rapid pace. In just one week, he will have almost doubled his weight.

All of its major organs are in place and starting to function, individually to begin with, then over weeks in a coordinated fashion.

When the fetus is 14 weeks old, his appearance is closer and closer to that of a small man, both in terms of the position and the proportions of the different parts of his anatomy. His body is no longer bent like a small bean: his head is straight and his legs are now longer than his arms. The intestine begins to return to the abdomen.

His face becomes human with little mimicry: he frowns, turns his eyes.

The ossification of his skeleton continues.

It alternates between waking and sleeping periods. And when awake he moves more and more, bending his arms and legs, clenching his fists. But at 16 weeks of amenorrhea (14 SG), still impossible for the future mother to feel these movements.

The heart of the 16 weeks fetus is perfectly formed, it contracts and expands, sending blood through the veins that run through its body. The circulation of the fetus responds to that of the mother: if the latter has a sudden rise in blood pressure, the influx of maternal hormones causes the baby to have an influx of blood. The veins swell, creating reliefs on her skin.

The latter, until then translucent, changes: the dermis is formed into a connective tissue containing elastic fibers and collagen fibers. At the level of the epidermis, the small taste buds are put in place, signing the outline of the sense of touch. The fetus begins to perceive the sounds of the mother’s body: the beating of the heart, the gurgling of the belly, the sounds of breathing.

The thyroid secretes thyroid hormone, which is very important for its growth and development.

This is the start of 2nd quarter, it is often presented as the most pleasant of pregnancy. The minor inconveniences of early pregnancy have normally disappeared and the pregnancy is well established. Belly at 16 weeks is now visible, but not yet bulky, so that it remains comfortable.

In the 4th month of pregnancy, however, regurgitation may appear or persist. They are due to the slowing down of gastric transit and the drop in the tone of the cardia, a small valve that prevents the contents of the stomach from going back up into the esophagus.

The uterus grows; it still has a roughly round shape because at the beginning of pregnancy, it develops in both directions. At the end of the sixth month, it will grow more in width, and eventually, more in length.

To start this 2nd quarter, the mother-to-be must consume iron. It is a trace element essential for the proper functioning of the body, especially during pregnancy, even if it must be provided in very small quantities. If the consumption of iron, or other trace elements is too high, it can be harmful for the body. Iron has a very important role: it helps red blood cells to collect oxygen in the lungs. It also ensures its transport, by the placenta, from the mother to the fetus. 

3 months pregnant, it is therefore very important to eat a diet containing enough iron. It is present in offal (kidneys, black pudding), red meats (beef, veal) and poultry (turkey, chicken). Fish and seafood (mackerel, mussels) also contain a good quantity, as well as legumes (split peas, lentils), seaweed or spices (thyme, cumin).

14 weeks pregnant (16 weeks), the pregnant woman finds a little serenity. The beginning of the 2nd trimester is often a very good time of pregnancy. Indeed, the inconveniences disappear and the inconveniences of the 3rd trimester have not yet appeared. Now might be the time to start thinking about a possible birth plan or to treat yourself to some nice, comfortable maternity clothes.

• perform monthly examinations: urinalysis for sugar and albumin, toxoplasmosis serology for non-immune pregnant women, search for irregular agglutinins if the mother is rh negative;
• go to the individual interview of the 4th month of pregnancy. This appointment, not compulsory but covered 100% by Health Insurance, differs from the 7 prenatal consultations in the pregnancy calendar. This is not a medical consultation but an interview with a health professional (midwife, gynecologist or general practitioner) during which all subjects relating to pregnancy will be discussed: pregnancy monitoring, the rights of parents, place of birth, different preparations for childbirth, the birth plan, etc. It is also an opportunity for the practitioner to identify a possible risk situation: conjugal violence, difficult socio-economic conditions, difficulties in experiencing pregnancy, etc.

3 months pregnant, this is normally the end of nausea. Appetite often returns at the start of the 2nd trimester. And that’s good ! Be careful, however, of excess. Even if the energy needs are somewhat increased during pregnancy due to the increase in basal metabolism, it is not a question of “eating for two”. Too much weight gain can lead to complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

Against acid reflux, we start by adopting a few hygienic and dietary rules: split meals, identify foods that cause burns (spicy or too rich dishes, coffee, carbonated drinks, etc.) and avoid lying down after a meal. A digestive walk promotes good digestion. Medicines (first-line anti-acid dressings, proton pump inhibitors in the event of persistent and painful reflux) may be prescribed for the mother-to-be. No self-medication, however: some non-prescription drugs are contraindicated during pregnancy. Also think about alternative medicine:

• in homeopathy: systematically take Robinia pseudo-acacia 5 CH, 5 granules before meals and at bedtime. Add Iris versicolor 5 CH and Sulfuricum acidum 9 CH 5 granules 3 times a day if the burns are particularly intense. If they are accompanied by bloating and belching: Kalium carbonicum 9 CH, 5 granules at bedtime and when the burns appear (1);
• in herbal medicine, various digestive plants can be consumed in herbal tea during pregnancy: grated fresh ginger, crushed cardamom pods, anise seeds, cumin seeds, Roman chamomile, lemon balm, lemon verbena. Taken as a decoction, plants rich in mucilages (marshmallow root, linseed) also have a soothing action on the digestive mucous membranes (2);
• acupuncture is also an attractive long-term resource.

Watch out for the pregnancy mask, which can appear early in pregnancy. Avoid sun exposure, use SPF 50 cream and wear a hat. We also continue to apply daily on the stomach a special cream or vegetable oil (sweet almond or better yet, rosehip) in order to prevent stretch marks.